Lately my spine has felt more on fire than usual. It hurts to turn my head, lift my arms, and walk. I cannot get comfy sleeping, either. I have trouble reaching up or down without discomfort and I am keenly aware of the pain all day. I have been doing exercises to try to help, but it feels like my spine is on fire and swollen. I lay against a heating pad several times each day and do gentle stretches to help ease the pain. Unfortunately, this has become my daily norm.
Recently, an MRI showed a protrusion in my T7/T8 region. Apparently, mid-back issues can be common in Fibro sufferers. All my stress seems to just land there in a jumble of pain. Fibromyalgia can cause Allodynia (a deep, aching and tender-to-the-touch, type of pain), and can also cause myofascial pain in the upper back, often aggravated by stress, sleep issues and poor posture. Yet, Lupus could also be a factor, as this pain can be caused by inflammatory arthritis and/or muscle inflammation (myositis) in the thoracic spine.
If you suffer from both conditions, it can be mind-puzzling to differentiate which condition is causing which issue…
But regardless, pain is the end result, and it feel like all my spine is inflamed and swollen. Not to mention the rest of my joints which feel like my ligaments are just dangling there, barely hanging on.
Prayer is constant on these days, as is pacing myself, not doing too much and resting. Slow and steady is the pace I have been doing this week… and last week… Thankfully our school year is over, and a slower pace (should) become my routine.
I hope you are having a better pain day today than I have been having.
God Bless-
The Fibro-Lupus Momma of Ten
